Online Resource Kit being developed for Opioid safety
The Canadian Association of Paediatric Health Centres (CAPHC) and the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) Canada, in partnership with Canadian Patient Safety Institute, Baxter Corporation, Medbuy and Healthcare insurance Reciprocal of Canada (HIROC) have launched Phase 3 of the High Alert Medication Delivery in Paediatrics Initiative – Opioid Safety: Education, Knowledge Translation and Implementation. The Canadian Patient Safety Institute has provided $50,000 toward development of an online Resource Kit and education modules to support the initiative.
“Medication discrepancies and adverse drug events at interfaces of care pose a significant patient safety risk,” says Hugh MacLeod, CEO, Canadian Patient Safety Institute. “The High Alert Medication Delivery in Paediatrics Initiative will help to accelerate and optimize medication safety across the healthcare system.”
“This Resource Kit integrates human factors engineering into the design of the opioid delivery processes and systems to minimize the opportunity for human error,” says Elaine Orrbine, President and Chief Executive Officer, CAPHC. “We recognize that the implementation process will vary for every organization and the creation of distinct standards for community and tertiary centres is one of the unique aspects of the Kit.”
During the first phase of the initiative the top five medications causing harm or potential harm to children and youth in Canada were identified. (Click on the link to access the Phase 1 Report.) The second phase focused on the creation of a set of recommendations for standard practices for the delivery of opioid medications in paediatrics, including standards for safe storage, labeling, prescribing and standard IV concentrations. These recommendations respond to the specific needs of both tertiary and community hospitals serving children and youth. (Click on the link to access the Phase 2 Report.)
As part of Phase 3, an online Resource Kit will include recommendations for standardization, with supporting resources and references. Education modules to support implementation of the recommendations will be introduced at a workshop in August and in conjunction with the CAPHC 2011 Annual Conference in October. Participants will learn how to use the Resource Kit and will have the opportunity to provide feedback to improve the education modules. The Resource Kit will be available on the CAPHC Knowledge Exchange Network, www.ken.caphc.org, following the August 2011 workshop.
CAPHC will host national webinars and education sessions this fall and winter, on how to access the Resource Kit and benefit from the different modules and recommendations to support the implementation process within different organizations. For more information, visit www.caphc.org.